Bedside manner test urged for NHS staff

The ability to listen to patients was described as “a fundamental clinical skill”ROBERT DALY/GETTY

Doctors and nurses should be tested more rigorously on their bedside manner before working in the NHS, the new head of the Patients Association said.

Compassion and the ability to listen to patients are as fundamental as clinical skills when selecting people to work on the NHS front line, Rachel Power insists, adding that there must be “more of a focus on values” in training and selecting staff.

Ms Power said: “Fantastic if you have really strong clinical skills, but [what’s] your bedside manner when somebody comes in?” she asked. “Communication shouldn’t be an add-on, it should be as crucially important as clinical skills: your ability to listen, to empathise.”

Some NHS hospitals already question candidates about their principles and how they put them into…

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